Not Like This
Posted by FradinRyth@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 238 comments
Over breakfast yesterday my wife mentioned wanting to grow veggies in large pots on part of our deck. So I dutifully ran over to Home Depot. While there, I started chatting with a couple of 70-80 year olds wandering the garden area and one of them asked me if I was retired...
When my youngest refused to believe I grew up in color and not black and white I laughed. When my tween daughter's friend we were giving a ride home to had never heard of Smashing Pumpkins I used it as a teachable moment. Having a boomer ask me if I'm retired cut me deep.
Does anyone know where I can find a front porch with rocking chair and some Bartles and Jaymes?
DismalIngenuity4604@reddit
Man, you know how you can't tell the difference between a 20 year old and a 30 year old any more because they're all just kinda "youngish". Well imagine how that's gonna be when you're 80!
Theyvprolky couldn't tell the difference between a toddler and someone buying their second house at this point!
You're good. And make sure you get some drainage on those veggie pots, and mix in enough woody soil or mulch into the ones you want to dry out faster! And no f$/$:n self watering pots, they dry our faster than real pots.
And grow some chillis, they're fun!
SeaworthinessNo4647@reddit
I asked a coworker if he had ever seen Mad Men and he looked at me like I was from Saturn. I thought at least everyone had heard of the show, like The Sopranos, but...no. that made me feel like I was crumbling to dust lol
Psychological-Cry221@reddit
I referenced the movie Office Space to a young associated and be gave me a blank look. I couldn’t believe it. If you want to feel really old go to the mall to buy pants.
MortgageRegular2509@reddit
Pants? We’re at slacks age now
Blackbird136@reddit
I hate the word “slacks”. Not sure exactly why. Only thing I can think is that when I was a preteen/teen and my mom would take me to the mall, it was always “do you need to look at slacks?”
No. I don’t. I’m not 86 years old. lol.
rohm418@reddit
And this is the day I began starting to use the word britches unironically.
derfzinkerbelle@reddit
Its Pantaloons from here out, honorable mention for Trousers too.
jestingvixen@reddit
Firmly in camp butt-flap.
jazzmaster_jedi@reddit
Go team Fart Catcher!
Primary-Strawberry-5@reddit
I refer to underwear as “undies” but mostly because it’s just annoying enough to my wife to make her giggle, and we’ve come to the understanding that being annoying is my superpower and so long as I keep it humorous territory with her, I can unleash the fury of my annoyingness on the unsuspecting public
Specialist-Leek8645@reddit
I never liked that word either. Trousers i can handle and even admit that's the real word for pants. 'Stockings' sounds like slacks so I prefer socks. If we make up a new word it should at least be shorter. Ain't nobody got time to say pantaloons unless you do cosplay lol
Diligent-Resist8271@reddit
I think I feel the same about panties. I hate that word, it's underwear (boxers if you're a dude (but also not a dude wear what you want) and wear them) but underwear is gender neutral and doesn't give me the willies when I say it (and yes I recognize that willies is a choice but it's a word like "ick" without the full "ick"). Stockings is for the things that go all the way up (pantyhose if you will, don't hate that word as much). Pants are pants, slacks is weird too (agree). I do enjoy a good pantaloon and trousers feel too formal. Blouse is similar as slacks but not as stuffy (or more stuffy depending on context), just call it a shirt. And brazier is a never, nope. Additional side note, my 13 year old daughter's friend said I talk like I have a English language plus subscription, because I use a lot of words. I said thank you, because I think words are so fun! I mean pantaloons! Pantaloooooooons!
Specialist-Leek8645@reddit
haha I was of course going to mention panties but decided not to. I'm not crazy about it either and I've known women our age who hate the word too. They said it's just underwear, why does it have to sound so dirty? I feel like a panty is lingerie (even tho it's not) but there isn't another word, is there? Guys have lots of options (prob bc we get catered to in ways we don't realize) but our only lingerie is like jock straps lol. I like the word hosiery more than hose or pantyhose but it doesn't sound cool.
A lot of these are French. Blouse sounds like a stuffy word, you mean? Anything bloused means it's puffed up and full of air. I used to blouse my pants into my combat boots in HS. Yes that was after Columbine. No, I didn't scare my classmates even if they deserved it. They were lucky they got me instead of someone who wasn't a pacifist.
Women's shirts are tops, no? I don't like that one either. It's to-the-point but feels lazy. Brazier means a metal fire pit and although those are very cool, I think you mean blazer, which is yet another clothing word I don't like. Damn we're fussy.
Words are fun and we're known for being weirdos. Millennial Cringe for the win. We grew up w Monty Python and Jim Carey and Robin Williams. Not to mention Ren and Stimpy. We've had the world flipped over so many times it's making us even more eccentric. Thank the kids for appreciatively recognizing your refined verbosity.
excited_and_scared@reddit
Brassiere, I think they meant. The longer version of Bra. Blazers are indeed jackets.
Specialist-Leek8645@reddit
Oh I still think they meant blazer but how did we skip La brassière? Can't leave that one out. I'm not a fan of 'bra' either. English never bothered to make new words for these. It would probably end up being a brand name, as with Xerox.
excited_and_scared@reddit
“Over the shoulder boulder holder” or “titty lifter” are my alternatives for that one. “Torture device” is good too, if a little unspecific.
Tho I do suppose if bras were to “Hoover-ise” like Xerox, the biggest name I can think of is “miracle bra”, so we wouldn’t make it far. 🤣
Specialist-Leek8645@reddit
Lol right? We can't decide on a term that isn't worse!
Swedish is bysthållare or behå or BH. Breast holder. That's how Germanic languages call it. Maybe our slang isn't too far off the mark. English is one big identity crisis.
ryaaan89@reddit
My grandma used to call them “dungarees.”
odoylessister@reddit
How about dungarees. My father wears those
yodellingllama_@reddit
Aren't they called "slacks" to distinguish from "tights"? With the rise of yoga pants, methinks "slacks" may have a resurgence.
amyldoanitrite@reddit
“Britches” is acceptable if preceded by “shit your”.
Did you shit your britches? Are you about to shit your britches? You look like you just shit your britches.
Thatoneguyfrom1980@reddit
Also acceptable if one is too big for their britches.
Leading-Summer-4724@reddit
Because when they’re “slacks” my granny’s voice pops up to remind me they should be ironed. And then I recall I don’t have any clue where my iron is any more.
saison257@reddit
Man, that took me back. My mom used to say "britches" all the time. Haven't heard it in decades.
Toblogan@reddit
My dad did too. He was from Mississippi. I always figured that had something to do with it... Lol
ijustsailedaway@reddit
Yeah, this made me think of my grandmas who both said it. Mom only said it when it was part of "too big for your britches"
neckbeardsghost@reddit
I also have an irrational dislike for the word slacks 😂 and as someone responded below, I have the same distain for the word panties. I really don’t know what drives this hatred of those words, but you’re not alone, friend. 😂
No_Today_4903@reddit
I had a great aunt that said britches, well with her Kentucky accent it was “birches”, and I say it as so all the time 🤣 she was reading a funny magnet while saying and and cracked up much harder than she should’ve. Her middle name was pearl and everyone called her “Pearlie” she was odd but very sweet lol. Haha I’m laying here laughing way harder than I should right now thinking about that stupid magnet and “birches” 🤣🤣 thanks! I really did need that laugh today!
ottersqueaks@reddit
I’m a nurse and I call all of my elderly patients’ pants “britches.” Like, “okay let’s just get your britches off.” My grandmother used the word britches all the time, I guess that’s where that came from. But slacks…reminds me of elementary school dress codes.
haudtoo@reddit
Pleats are back in
frameshifted@reddit
Ew no 😂
thejunkmanadv@reddit
I found out that these are no longer called Long Johns, they are "base layers"
smacfa01@reddit
They will FOREVER be long johns, and whoever disagrees can fight me.
thejunkmanadv@reddit
Remember the polyester kind? Itchy as fuck. I remember so many ski trips itching under my snow suit.
ShartyMcFly1982@reddit
I live in Western North Carolina. I’ve been using britches and now my 6 year old uses it too. So now I have an 80 year old 6 year old.
max_power1000@reddit
I still don’t know the difference between slacks, chinos, and khakis.
sheize__minnelli@reddit
Slacks are too formal for me. I’ll be kicking it in some fresh dungarees.
EssentialOilsFor7@reddit
Slacks? I’m perimenopausal. Try sweatpants.
fednandlers@reddit
Pants?? *cue bass line intro to “cannonball” by the breeders.
MinusGovernment@reddit
I will die in cargo shorts. If it's winter I will have cargo sweats over my cargo shorts. Unless it happens suddenly after I put on a banana hammock to open the door cuz some asshole knocked or rang the doorbell and they need to learn not to do it ever again.
purpleWord_spudger@reddit
I've stopped making pop culture references unless everyone in the room is 35+. Otherwise I feel like an escape from the retirement home when all the young people look at me blankly but oh so politely as they smile and nod at my elderly slathering. I'm 45 🥺
itorrey@reddit
“And then the man said that there was no spoon…”
“Sure grandma, let’s get you back to bed”
purpleWord_spudger@reddit
bahahaha I love music
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
A good friend of mine is a teacher and one of his coworkers was hanging out with us. She's in her late 20s and referred to the Matrix as "that really old Keanu Reeves movie"
shyguy1953@reddit
I sing in a little local cover band and someone asked me to sing a song by "that old black lady."
They were talking about Alicia Keys.
Emotional_Warthog658@reddit
💀 okay that got me
smacfa01@reddit
“The old black lady”?! When I think ‘old black lady”’, I think of Aretha Franklin, not Alicia Keys.
The disrespect.
mid_1990s_death_doom@reddit
Oh man. This one hits kinda hard.
hi984390@reddit
Oooof lol
SunnyMorf@reddit
I overheard in the hallway of the place I’m working one person saying to another person, “are you familiar with a band called The Ramones?” I was far away enough to not hear the response, but it still shook me that this is even a question now.
Omgkimwtf@reddit
I was at a yarn shop and the under 10 daugther of the shop owner asked me if I'd heard of this band Backstreet Boys. I cackled aloud while dying on the inside.
StephInTheLaw@reddit
I was sitting in a meeting with the attorneys in my section, about half of whom are under 30 when a partner around my age made a reference to Crocodile Dundee (You think that’s a knife? This is a knife.) and more than one thought it was from the Simpsons. I added 10 more grey hairs that moment.
Q-burt@reddit
Hurt people hurt people. I think that's why you passed on this hurtful message.
Ok-Energy5358@reddit
Ouch. The even somewhat remotely correct answer to her statement would be Rivers Edge or Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. But those aren’t old? Old movies are from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s
NoGoat3930@reddit
Matrix hit me funny yesterday as I reminisced on watching blqck and white reruns of George Reeves' Superman TV show from the 60's. Then I recalled Christopher Reeve Superman movies from the 80's, and each iteration of Superman and all the other superhero reboots, and the resurrection of fascism, the red scare, etc. I apparently missed a huge Matrix metaphor, in that I feel like business is selling me the same crappy life that they sold to previous generation. Now Kennedy (fueled by business donations to his so-called "non-profits") are trying to bring back childhood diseases, so that the next generation can reconquer pestilence by reinventing vaccines.
And another thing - CRACK -whoops, my soap box broke,.so I guess I'll stop now.
Polymox@reddit
Excellent!
Maniac1978@reddit
The Office Space thing happened to me 5 years ago. I try to never speak of “pop culture” at work now.
I had a 22 year old co worker ask me if we had Arcades when I was growing up.
tabbyk@reddit
This literally happened to me on Monday. It hurt my feelings so bad.
fermentedradical@reddit
They don't watch movies anymore, and to us at their age that would have been like a comedy that came out in the early 70's. We're old, man.
RylieHumpsalot@reddit
Mall???
Aren't we all shopping at Costco for our clothes?
Topwingwoman2@reddit
My boomer dad's favorite clothing store.
thejunkmanadv@reddit
For shoes.
Women: SAS "Bounce"
Men:
shnigybrendo@reddit
Peeing in your pants is the coolest
thejunkmanadv@reddit
Then I'm Miles Davis.
crop07@reddit
Looks like we're gonna have to start a mall walking group. Track suits and all.
thejunkmanadv@reddit
Don't forget the Evian water.
CTMechE@reddit
I referenced it last week, but I knew the co worker was born 4 years after it came out.
It actually prompted a further discussion about how those younger people likely never will watch these movies because many cult classics like this are rental-only and not included in any subscription.
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
I keep buying movies on blurays and ripping them to our plex server because of the impermanence to digital platforms. Not to mention that they're now going back into digital things and changing them to keep them "relevant".
CTMechE@reddit
Lol, this sub makes me feel seen.
I, too, run a Plex server. And I built a new PC last summer and specifically bought a case with extra internal drive bays plus an external bay so I can still carry over my optical drive. Probably one of the rare few computers with a Ryzen 9 and a 50 series RTX card and a disc drive 🤣
I actually still have the Office Space DVD I got ~25 years ago. I never threw any of my discs out.
thejunkmanadv@reddit
Fellow data hoarder here. While I have one or two streaming subscriptions for convenience sake (for now). I have kept all my physical media, and purchase the "new" stuff I like for posterity. I too have a NAS with not only my personal archives, but ripped DVD's/CD's ect... I am around 10TB.
I also have DVD/Bluray players new in the box saved for the future, in case the current one breaks. I also have one 6 head VCR in storage for archival purposes of my VHS tapes. I also have two CRT's for when I want the authentic experience.
Farty_mcSmarty@reddit
Office space should be required watching at any cubicle-based company
ijustsailedaway@reddit
I have it on VHS and DVD. Top 3 movie of all time for me.
smacfa01@reddit
Agreed. Just like “Waiting” should be required viewing for anyone going into the service industry.
brockhopper@reddit
Man, I once downed a bottle of wine and watched Office Space and Fight Club in the same night. I was depressed about my job before I started the evening, and was even moreso afterwards.
des1gnbot@reddit
A former office of mine had two printers. One of them had binding and stapling capabilities, so we named that one Milton. It hurt to realize how many of the younger staff that was meaningless for.
tlivingd@reddit
I work with a lot of 20 something’s in an office and I tell them it’s required watching. I used to have a list of movies for youngins. But other than office space and Alien and maybe Cool Hand Luke, Shawshank Redemption I can’t remember what’s on it.
No_Wear295@reddit
Back to the Future, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Top Gun
ijustsailedaway@reddit
I regret to inform kids don't necessarily think Top Gun is cool anymore.
brockhopper@reddit
What, they don't like volleyball?!
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
Can the kids these days not ruin our Navy Promational Propaganda film?
No_Wear295@reddit
Yeah.... wasn't thinking about the cool factor, more about pop-culture impact and awareness in keeping with u/tlivingd 's "required watching"
Responsible_Sound_71@reddit
I sure hope half baked was on there
Large-Inspection-487@reddit
Abba Zabba you my only friend
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
Cool Hand Luke is such a great film.
CariniFluff@reddit
Funkopedia@reddit
Wait, where do people buy pants now that malls are gone? Are we seriously to mail order and try on and send back everything?
Jelly_bean_420@reddit
I referenced Smallville to my team and they aged me a boomer.
SMALLVILLE. Eff that.
SuzieQbert@reddit
About a decade ago, I was working a sales-based job where my manager was about a decade younger than me. We had a conversation discussing a competitor, when I told him their prices are wearing apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur.
He was very confused.
I felt myself age and crumble to dust Indiana Jones style. Which he also didn't understand.
SanchoPliskin@reddit
The mall? That’s what Costco is for.
SeniorRum@reddit
I took my entire office team to a brewery that was showing office space a few years ago specifically so they could catch my references. Was sick of them asking where the TPS report template I was talking about was….
ijustsailedaway@reddit
I'm old and not wearing my glasses and I thought you said plants. My immediate thought was then, "Plants?! At the mall?!!!"
LunchMeatJones@reddit
Same same
ShirazGypsy@reddit
I was trying on jeans yesterday and was internally grumbling about how the style is ripped jeans with holes, while simultaneously realizing how old that thought made me.
Due-Explanation-7560@reddit
They don't make pants for my short fat butt. 36-29/30 at any of these new stores is not a size
mike_b_nimble@reddit
I was shocked last week when a 24 year old in my office referenced Office Space!
Washingtonpinot@reddit
Current university students don’t know the show 30 Rock, but they may recognize Tina Fey from Mean Girls 2… True story.
CariniFluff@reddit
Exact same thing happened to me a few months ago. Two twenty something new hires had never heard of, let alone watched Office Space. I couldn't believe it. Michael and Samir couldn't believe it.
Murphy_Dropkick410@reddit
...if one can find a mall still open 😅
bekarene1@reddit
The part of the story that struck me was "Over breakfast yesterday my wife mentioned wanting to grow veggies in large pots on part of our deck."
Assuming your wife is a similar age as you, I gotta tell you, this is gonna spiral. Congratulations, you are now a farmer. Add it to your list of elder Millenial hobbies. 🤣
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah I'm 44 and she just turned 46. I'm just waiting for her to present phase two of "some veggies".
A friend told me to basically just get ahead of it and go straight to grow tents in the house.
96385@reddit
Honestly, you're just a few steps away from an orchard in your front yard.
niobiumnnul@reddit
Yep, and if you live in an area with deer, rabbits, outdoor cats, etc., go ahead and start researching how to keep them out of your goods.
Welcome to retirement, kid!
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
I was thinking about going back for a masters, I just didn't expect it to be an MSGA (Masters of Science in Green Acres)
Cooperland@reddit
My farmer phase started in my 30s. She’ll want chickens before you know it. (Those eggs were damn good though.)
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
Our city defines chickens as a nuisance and restricted live stock so that's a no go for us but yeah farm fresh eggs are amazing.
bekarene1@reddit
Amazing, your friend is so smart. I asked my husband for 3 raised beds 5 years ago, because "I don't want to get too crazy with this."
Now I have 10 beds and 4 fruit trees and berry bushes and flowers and .... yeah. 🤣 It's fun though, good for her.
AlegnaKoala@reddit
I started 15 years ago with some half barrels and 4x6 stock tanks and some potted herbs. Now it’s … let’s just say, well beyond that.
bekarene1@reddit
It's so true. It's been amazing for keeping my anxiety and general angst about absolutely everything in the world right now at a manageable level. 🙃😅
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
No kidding, that's part of why my wife said she wanted to do this!
AlegnaKoala@reddit
Yep. Plus you have food and herbs you grew yourself, and you can preserve/dry/freeze them and share them with others. My entire yard (corner lot in city midtown) is garden now: berries and natives and pollinator attractors and edible perennials and herbs and greens and veggies. It keeps me busy anyway.
Excellent-Goal4763@reddit
This wasn’t about you looking old, it was about them believing they are younger than they actually are. Like me when I see a 35 year old and I think they must be my age. Lol.
realauthormattjanak@reddit
All of my co workers are in their 20's. I was talking casually about 9/11 and my experiences while in the Army before and during, but then realized to them I was describing a historical event they've only read about or seen videos of.
False-Cookie3379@reddit
My daughter is a sophomore in college, they’re learning about 9/11 in post 1964 US history. She legit asked if I could go talk to her class and tell them about what it was like to live through it like I was a ww2 veteran 🫠. Thank you for service, my husband was in the army 2000-2016, I know it hasn’t been easy for you guys.
ijustsailedaway@reddit
I'm from OKC and I've had similar discussions with my daughter's friends about the Murrah bombing. It doesn't make me feel old but it did bring up emotions I didn't realize I'd been pushing down to the pit of my stomach for a few decades.
kathatter75@reddit
I went to college in central Texas. The day of the bombing, the local news channels talked about it being the anniversary of everything going down in Waco. When we saw the news of the bombing in OKC, it was awful…but we were practically yelling at the TV that it had to do with Waco. We wondered why it took so long to make that connection.
Mac_A81@reddit
Forgive my ignorance, but did those two events happen around the same time? I obviously remember both pretty well but I have no recollection of when they occurred.
I know OKC was in the spring during my spring break and that I think I was in 5th grade during Waco.
PaleoSpeedwagon@reddit
Tbh, as someone who didn't grow up in the region, it's only now that you mention these two events that it occurs to me that there was any connection at all. I don't think I ever saw any news clips connecting the two.
kathatter75@reddit
Maybe it’s because we were an hour away from Waco and heard about it so much.
Similarly, on 9/11, they talked about one of the planes (I think the one that went down in PA) was supposed to target the White House. I immediately thought of Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy because a pilot did that in that book. Because I’d read it recently, it stood out in my mind.
False-Cookie3379@reddit
I moved to Tulsa area in 97, the paid of that is still here. I was in 4th grade when it happened, i remember coming home and my mom was watching it on TV and told my dad “someone blew up a building in Oklahoma”.
RepresentativeNo2187@reddit
I have a newborn. 9/11 will just be a paragraph in the '00's section, maybe, by 2046.
thejunkmanadv@reddit
Damn, I never thought about it that way? This was a while back, but I even referenced the 1993 OKC bombing event and they were like "can I get a what, what?" as it is a lesser remembered event.
tackleboxjohnson@reddit
Tell me about ‘Nam, grandpa
soopafly@reddit
No Bartles and Jaymes, but I do have a front porch where I often have a Werthers Original
ConcreteKeys@reddit
Gone are the days of asking for a piece of gum. Does anybody have some Werther's Originals?
CryCommon975@reddit
If it bothers you then do something about it- get a skincare routine, workout more, update your wardrobe, etc.
Crouton_Sharp_Major@reddit
I can offer you a [back porch](https://youtu.be/TmrXHEdT-E0?si=lxBIyxAweI-kwjfP)
afteeeee@reddit
I was at a garage sale a while ago and someone asked me about my grandkids, I just stared blankly and said I have a 10 year old lol. I mean there are 43 year olds with grandkids for sure but that was a first for me.
XELA_38@reddit
chazysciota@reddit
My man. I quote this at least every other week... first thing I though of.
squish059@reddit
lol I’m all grey and people sometimes think my wife (7 years younger) is my daughter … I’d rather be asked if I’m retired.
chazysciota@reddit
Don't fret amigo, my oldest (15) discovered, listened to, and loved Melon Collie without any input or mention from anyone older than high school age. There's a too much music for everyone to learn about every band organically, but the Pumpkins are still surprisingly relevant and the kids are alright.
Mother_of_Kiddens@reddit
About 6 months ago I was out shopping with my daughter who wasn’t quite 2 at the time. I was approached by an older lady who opened with “is she your granddaughter? She’s so cute!” I started talking care of my appearance a bit better after that lol
Ok_Flamingo8870@reddit
Many of my coworkers are in their 20s and I just found out some of them think of me as their work-mom 😩
Cashewkaas@reddit
I’m slowly turning into work-dad for some of my younger colleagues. I don’t mind, I don’t have kids of my own so I’ll take care of them at work.
cybah@reddit
LOL I get "you're so Dad" alot at work. People say I am comforting to talk to.. like your dad.
bekarene1@reddit
We were in a tube station in London on Halloween last year and this extremely drunk college dude in costume looked my husband up and down and then said, "what are you supposed to be - Dad Man??"
My husband was so proud, LOL.
LemonCitron47@reddit
LOLLLLLLLLLL
kathatter75@reddit
LOL! I’ve always joked around with my managers and called them Mom or Dad more than once. Most of them have been my age or younger.
flyza_minelli@reddit
Omg I love this and hate this and still love this. My last two contracts had me working with a younger crowd and being secretly named the department mom was crushing and also endearing, honestly. It hurt but I think I’m ready to step up to challenge if needed. It’s time.
bekarene1@reddit
Ok yes, horrifying. 🤣 But I remember my "work moms" from that era of my life and those women are like heroes in my mind. Literally changed my life, made me a better human and gave me my take no sh*t attitude at work that has saved me a thousand times sense. It's our turn now.🫶🏻
Ok_Flamingo8870@reddit
You're absolutely right. And the truth is I was / am honored to hold that position!
kathatter75@reddit
This. I’ve had some wonderful work moms and would be thrilled to know someone thinks of me like that.
Tigerpride84@reddit
This world needs a lot more work moms and work dads, take it as a badge of honor
touslesmatins@reddit
Gross!
DookieMcDookface@reddit
Gray pubes fucked me up dawg
Omgkimwtf@reddit
Had a mini crisis on the toilet at work when I found my first one.
Johnsonmd145@reddit
I know the feeling. The last time I got my hair done my hairdresser asked me if I had grandkids. Now I totally understand that some people, my age, are grandparents, but this is the first time I was ever asked that.
Omgkimwtf@reddit
I have an uncle, who is younger than my own father, who is a great grandfather like, 4 times over (ie, he has 4 great grandchildren).
DgingaNinga@reddit
I was asked yesterday at the Cancer Society Thrift if I qualified for the senior discount. Could someone carry another chair to the porch for me?
AlegnaKoala@reddit
A few years ago, a book club friend in her late 20s asked why no independents have ever gotten to run for president. I said, they have. She said, no I know they’re always on the ballots but I mean, in recent history, how come there haven’t been any who get national press and who are actually viable and get to debate the nominees from the two big parties?
I told her about Ross Perot. She’d ever heard of him. She was AMAZED. I told her how he got about 20% of the popular vote and about his pie charts on TV. She is such an intelligent and educated well-read person, too. It just hadn’t come up.
I felt very ancient. She kept asking me questions like I was a living witness to history, the last of my kind or something.
MinusGovernment@reddit
He's the reason they make it impossible for any one other than Rs and Ds get on the debate stage now. Along with constantly moving goalposts to even get their name on the ballots in every state.
AlegnaKoala@reddit
Yep. The kids need to know about this.
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
He really was the closest we've ever gotten in recent history to disrupting the status quo.
brockhopper@reddit
There's also John Anderson, who was the closest equivalent in both years and success to Perot for our generation.
ijustsailedaway@reddit
"You can't put a porcupine in a barn, light it on fire and expect it to make licorice!"
God I miss the Dana Carvey era SNL.
Maleficent-Earth9201@reddit
My 17yo daughter asked me what was like growing up in the 1900s... The adoption papers are being drafted...
Omgkimwtf@reddit
Recently distributed stickers to my girlfriends: "Please be patient with me, I'm from the 1900s". Faux cross stitch style, complete with a little ox under the words.
smacfa01@reddit
I think I aged 40 years just reading that
Anonymoushipopotomus@reddit
What’s this word retirement that you speak of?
smacfa01@reddit
Urban Legend. Like Bigfoot, or the Loch Ness Monster
MrsEmilyN@reddit
-Ive been a medical receptionist for 25 years. I've become old enough to be my coworkers mother. -Some of my "work children" we're not even born when 9/11 happened. -Some of them have no idea what automatic seatbelts are.
Where's my cane
touslesmatins@reddit
Wait what is an automatic seatbelt?
MrsEmilyN@reddit
The chest strap is attached to the door frame and when you start your car, I'm moves along the frame.
video
touslesmatins@reddit
Wow I've never experienced that! And I'm old (1979)
MrsEmilyN@reddit
I had it in my '89 Camry.
joggingatsea@reddit
Man, I had forgotten about those!
Omgkimwtf@reddit
Interestingly enough, I bought my patio rocking chair from Home Depot.
RachelPalmer79@reddit
I heard Oh Yeah from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at the grocery store last weekend. My mortality weighed heavily upon me.
Tight_Cheetah_4474@reddit
I heard Sublime on the kroger station a week ago....nothing like the stoner songs of your youth to play while you decide on which greek yogurt you want.
you_cant_pause_toast@reddit
RachelPalmer79@reddit
I felt the compulsion to mosey over to the pharmacy to peruse the reader glasses.
_R_A_@reddit
I mean, going to Home Depot on a Tuesday morning... Kinda screams not doing the 9-to-5.
ResponsibilityGold88@reddit
To be fair, those boomers were probably able to retire in their late 40s/early 50s, so their frame of reference is skewed.
They just assume we can live like they did without stopping to realize they fucked everything up for us and we’ll likely never be able to retire.
Zetavu@reddit
I work with Millennials and and Zoomers mostly, and I can explain the difference this way. When I refer to the three stooges, both claim they know them, but when I suddenly say "Look at the grouse" the Millennial laughs and the Zoomer looks confused.
Every 10 years a little more of our culture gets stripped away.
Brilliant_Addendum56@reddit
My daughter saud she'd never watched Billy Madison because she doesn't like "old people" movies.
you_cant_pause_toast@reddit
Your daughter is clearly not Miles Davis
Fosad@reddit
Old man Clemens hates shit!
Much_Ad470@reddit
Tribblehappy@reddit
I went back to college in my 30s. A classmate asked me who my favourite bands are. Among them I listed Nine Inch Nails.
He paused for a moment and said, "Oh! yah, they have that Bite the Hand that Feeds song."
I have only ever heard non-fans refer to them as the band with the "fuck you like an animal song" so this made me feel really old and weird.
Plane_Chance863@reddit
Some people manage to retire early?
If you were out and about during what most people call a work day, I can see being asked about being retired, especially if the people asking worked 9-5 rather than jobs with different schedules.
Plumeria9798@reddit
That’s what I was thinking. Probably OP doesn’t look “old enough” to be retired and they asked based on the time of day they were all out buying plants. I’m surprised I’ve never gotten that question either, as I work from home.
quelledramatique@reddit
Yep, agree! My husband and I both wfh, and I commonly have older folks assume I’m a “homemaker,” while he has had older folks assume he is retired. So in addition to not really understanding that many people have different work situations now, there’s also a gender component if OP is a guy.
Plumeria9798@reddit
I didn’t even think about that but you’re right, I’m sure. I’m a woman, hence they probably assume I’m a “homemaker” and that’s why I’ve never been asked if I’m retired.
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
True, I do custom woodworking so I haven't had a traditional corporate role since I left HR like 15 years ago.
Colambler@reddit
Is that one of your major sources of income? Or do you essentially have enough money from your HR roles that you don't really need to work and it's more of a way of paying for your hobby?
If it's the later, I may have some news for you lol
BagOnuts@reddit
A boomer asking younger gens if they are retired shows you they have no concept of what life is like for us. Most of us will never “retire”. We’ll work until we physically cannot and then hope our meager 401ks and next-to-nothing SS payments will sustain our cost for medical expenses and end of life care so we don’t have to burden our kids with it.
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
That ice flow is starting to look awfully nice, I'm not going to lie.
Express-Cow190@reddit
Maybe they thought you were really successful or something
Intelligent-Search88@reddit
Well yesterday was a Tuesday. Many boomers don’t understand that some ppl work remotely or don’t do a standard 9-5, so they may have just assumed that op was retired like them.
False-Cookie3379@reddit
Coming from a place of love because I fried some plants a few summers ago, on hot days move the plants to the grass or bring them inside. The heat killed the roots of some tomato plants. And good luck on your next venture! Next up..bird watching!!!!
SoYoureBreakingUp@reddit
My younger brother introduced me to the Merlin app and now it's only a matter of time before I interrupt my wife with "oh man, that Robin is really after it this morning."
ImJustSaying34@reddit
lol what is up with liking birds more as you age? I also have the Merlin app just to track what birds are in my garden. It really is great! I used to hate birds but now I see cool one and want to look it up. It’s like you pass 40 and birds suddenly become interesting 😅
So I’m out in my gardening clothes identifying birds and realized there is a reason my kids make fun of me for being an “old lady from the 1900s”. My gardening attire really emphasizes the old lady vibes.
False-Cookie3379@reddit
I love that app! We spent weeks weeks trying to figure out what type of owl was making the sound we kept hearing. It was actually a mourning dove, me and hubby felt absolutely silly. And we found out we have two different types of woodpeckers. My younger self would be so embarrassed.
BloggerCurious@reddit
I'm starting to get the growing bug as well. My grandma grew vegetables in her front garden. I'm down with growing fresh vegetables
"When you start turning into your parents" (Progressive Insurance)
Intelligent-Search88@reddit
My tween son told me I wouldn’t understand something because “I was born in the 1900s”
theMightBoop@reddit
A few months ago I went out to eat and they gave me the senior discount. I am not a senior. On the one hand I appreciate a discount but on the other hand…damn do I look that old?
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
This was a couple years ago (not that, that makes it better) but I had a kid give me a military discount because my credit card is from USAA. I told him I didn't serve and my dad had. He responded back with "Oh I assumed you were in the first Iraq War". Thank you for not assuming Vietnam I guess, but seriously Afghanistan wasn't a choice!?!
mjh8212@reddit
With my grandparents it was slacks. I was really confused as a kid I didn’t know what slacks were my dads side called them pants. They still went downtown shopping at department stores for slacks. Or Pennies which is what JC Penny was called. They also didn’t drive so they would tell my mom they needed to go somewhere for slacks.
Seven22am@reddit
He asked you if you were retired because you looked extremely wealthy and enjoying leisure.
FradinRyth@reddit (OP)
I never knew my t-shirt with a bear and moose on a tandem bicycle projects wealth and leisure but I'll take it!
M_J_E@reddit
And at Home Depot on a Tuesday morning.
icanhaztuthless@reddit
If you’re at Home Desperate chatting it up, you may very well be retired. Lmao
Not for nothing, but I “retired” from federal service of 23 years. More like resigned and waiting until retirement age to collect. Born in 82.
HobKnobblin@reddit
New coworker is 21. Mentioned David Spade the other day and he didn't know who we were talking about. I was dumbfounded. "Joe Dirt? Tommy Boy?" Blank stare. How is this possible?
Living-Video-3670@reddit
My moment was a couple years ago. I was managing the service desk at my current job, and I dont normally do phone support, but my team was drowning. I jumped into the phone queue, and got a call from a student assistant (I work at a university) that was reporting she couldn't get to any websites. I asked her to check behind the computer to see if the network cable was firmly connected to the computer. She asked which one is the network cable, and I said its the one that kind of looks like a phone cord to which she said she didnt know what that was. There it is folks, Im old.
stealy_darn@reddit
I was working a booth at a community event last summer and an older gentleman in a Vietnam Vet hat came over to talk to me. He talked about how he was 78 and how he took care of himself, could still get around and he took his hat off and said he still had his hair.
Then he said, “Yeah but you’re young, you’ve gotta be, what, 55?” … I was 43 at the time 😳
too_old_to_be_clever@reddit
Don't forget to get your wood and whittling knife
scotty_gzus@reddit
Don’t take it too hard.. if you were at HD during typical working hours (9-5,M-F) you’ll get that question from Boomers. I work from home, but if I have to run some errands somewhere during the day, it’s either:”got the day off?” or “playing hookie today?!” EXCLUSIVELY from boomers. 🙄Nobody else cares, at all, ever.
I guess if you’re not sequestered away to a job you hate, you’re not doing it right🥴
fromthedarqwaves@reddit
Oklahoma is riddled with front porch rocking chairs and B&Js. My first sip of alcohol was from a B&J that the neighbor conveniently kept on her porch in a cooler.
kaest@reddit
The Matrix came out 27 years ago.
XELA_38@reddit
I was a sophomore in high school and remember getting really high before and watching it on IMAX. Top 5 movie theater experiences ever!
o_0dk-frlsyall314@reddit
People bump into me now, I'm referred to as "sir". I'm also bothered by the amount of concern shown. They say "excuse me sir" and then look me over to make sure medical assistance isn't necessary. No, my hip is fine! ...right at this moment...
Sockalexis@reddit
Did you explain to them the cost of housing and food and healthcare is too high for anyone to retire anymore? Not to mention the dismal outlook for social security and Medicare under this administration? I’m sure that’s what type of conversation they were looking for ;)
helikophis@reddit
My wife got mail from the AARP the other day 😂😂😂
Eledridan@reddit
You were buying gardening supplies casually in the middle of the day when most people are working. It makes sene they thought you were retired.
SpaceBowie2008@reddit
Time passes but we are in our 40's and not old. You can spend this last bit of not being old telling yourself you're old but not me. I feel young and my body is not falling a part like many of you in this sub.
theaveragenerd@reddit
Had a cashier ask me if needed the senior discount. I'm not even 50 yet.
Sockalexis@reddit
I think you’re more of a Seagram’s golden wine coolers kind of guy. It’s wet and it’s dry, my my my my!
chocolatepig214@reddit
Our big DIY chain in the UK offers a discount on Wednesday to over 60s and my other half got asked if he was a member when he was about 45. Devo. Last time I got ID’d was about 3 years ago when I was 42.
drudman6@reddit
Accept this new phase of life. You are in middle age. Your memories and your lived experiences as a young person are more valuable now now than anything else you have. When my father was our age, he taught me about all kinds of bands and movies from before my time that I still dearly love. I ranked on him for liking weird old stuff. But when your daughter and her friends are in their 20s and 30s, they may realize that they love the things you shared with them.
“If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
SuperVillainPresiden@reddit
You should have laughed in their faces, "No one in my generation gets to retire! Hahaha..(sad)Hahaha..(starts bawling uncontrollably)"
Smorsdoeuvres@reddit
Cracker Barrel has some nice rockers out front but the music there is a bit older than Smashing Pumpkins my dude. ❤️
The-Great-Mullein@reddit
I was at pharmacy last year and the young girl working the cash asked me I was getting the seniors discount.
FAYCSB@reddit
Sounds like you went to Home Depot for gardening supplies on a weekday. Regardless of your age, that’s retired-coded.
TummyPuppy@reddit
Is the “not like this” quote from the Matrix?
Myfourcats1@reddit
It’s cute that boomers think anyone after them will get to retire
Stink_Snake@reddit
You can tell how old someone is by counting the number of pots in and around their house. They could smell you were jonesing for more pots.
LogicWavelength@reddit
I have front porch rocking chairs. Breezesta brand. They went out of business I think, but they are damn sturdy and will outlast nuclear winter. A good cup of fresh coffee and some late-spring morning sun, watch the dew burn off, wave to some neighbors walking their dogs… fuck… not like this.
18randomcharacters@reddit
Maybe they thought you were retired because you were at Home Depot mid-day on a Tuesday, buying flower pots?
Rhapsodyingloom@reddit
I’ve always come across as younger to the youngsters which is frustrating in ways I never could’ve anticipated. I don’t know how Leo does it.
MeatPopsicle10@reddit
Where I live (DC) people retire from the military quite young! Several of my friends (military Xennials) are already retired
lemmylemonlemming@reddit
...and thank you for your support
Ynot2_day@reddit
Omg when my daughter was little she asked me what life was like when things were only black and white. I was so taken aback!! I was like how old do you think I am?! it’s also funny why they have that idea. Like I never thought that the world was in black-and-white at one time, I just knew they were only black-and-white photos.
Redlady0227@reddit
I miss Bartles and Jaymes
No_Wear295@reddit
Yes on the rocking chair, but sub in some Beastie Boys.... Rocking chair on the porch with a nice beverage is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon
SidFinch99@reddit
My 12 year old refers to stuff from the 80's and 90's as "old fashioned."
MinusGovernment@reddit
Got to get a porch swing unless your plan is to have the wife in the backyard with the vegetable pots and you clear on the other side of the house (phone left inside) so you can pretend you didn't hear her even if your ears still work properly.
polygonalopportunist@reddit
Had a similar moment with two grey hairs fixing a fence yesterday, I was power walking and i could tell they regarded me as one of their own. “Pick up the pace!” They joked. Generally, I look like im in my mid 50s and have for years so im at peace with it.
pi_guy@reddit
My kid is 19 and getting into Guitar Hero / Rock Band / whatever guitar game is in Fortnite , its fun telling them stories of the parties that we used to have playing those games when they were just a tiny tot....then they get mad at me when I ended up selling all of those plastic band accessories when my xbox 360 stopped working